Bible: Neh 9:9-38

9:9 “You sawthe afflictionof our ancestorsin Egypt, and you heardtheir cryat the RedSea.19:10Youperformedawesome signs2againstPharaoh, againsthis servants, and againstallthe peopleof his land, foryou knewthatthe Egyptians3 had acted presumptuously4againstthem. You madefor yourself a namethat is celebrated to thisday.9:11You splitthe seabeforethem, and they crossedthrough5the seaon dry ground! But you threwtheir pursuers6into the depths, likea stoneinto surging7waters.9:12You guidedthem with a pillarof cloudby dayand with a pillarof fireby nightto illuminefor themthepaththey were to travel.

9:13 “You came downonMountSinaiand spokewiththem from heaven. You provided themwith just judgments, truelaws, and goodstatutesand commandments.9:14You made knownto them your holySabbath; you issuedcommandments, statutes, and lawto themthrough8Mosesyour servant.9:15You providedbreadfrom heavenfor them in their time of hunger, and youbrought forthwaterfrom the rockfor them in their time of thirst. You toldthem to enterin order to possessthelandthat you hadsworn9to givethem.

9:19 “Due to yourgreatcompassionyou did notabandonthem in the desert. Thepillarof clouddid notstopguidingthem in the pathby day,15nor did the pillarof firestop illuminatingfor them by nightthepathon whichthey should travel.9:20You impartedyour goodSpiritto instructthem. You did notwithholdyour mannafrom their mouths; you providedwaterfor their thirst.9:21For fortyyearsyou sustained them. Even in the desertthey neverlackedanything. Their clothesdid notwear outand their feetdid notswell.

9:22 “You gavethem kingdomsand peoples, and you allocatedthemto every cornerof the land.16They inheritedthe landof KingSihonof Heshbon17and the landof KingOgof Bashan.9:23You multipliedtheir descendantslike the starsof the sky. You broughtthem tothe landyou hadtoldtheir ancestorsto enterin order to possess.9:24Their descendants18enteredand possessedtheland. You subduedbeforethem the Canaaniteswho were the inhabitantsof the land. You deliveredthem into their hand, together with their kingsand thepeoplesof the land, to dealwith as they pleased.9:25They capturedfortifiedcitiesand fertileland. They took possessionof housesfullof all sortsof good things– wellspreviously dug, vineyards, olive trees, and fruittreesin abundance. They ateuntil they were full19and grew fat. They enjoyedto the full your greatgoodness.

9:26 “Nonetheless they grew disobedientand rebelled againstyou; they disregardedyour law.20They killedyour prophetswho hadsolemnly admonishedthem in order to cause them to returntoyou. They committedatrociousblasphemies.9:27Therefore you deliveredthem into the handof their adversaries, who oppressedthem. But in the timeof their distressthey calledtoyou, and youheardfrom heaven. In your abundantcompassionyou providedthem with deliverersto rescuethem from21 their adversaries.

9:28 “Then, when they were at restagain, they went backto doingevilbeforeyou. Then you abandonedthem to22 their enemies, and they gaineddominion over them. When they againcriedout to you, in your compassionyou heardfrom heavenand rescuedthem timeand again.9:29And you solemnly admonishedthem in order to returnthem toyour law, but theybehaved presumptuouslyand did notobeyyour commandments. They sinnedagainst your ordinances– those by whichan individual, if he obeysthem,23 will live. They boldly turned fromyou;24 they rebelled25and did notobey.9:30You prolongedyour kindness26 with themfor manyyears, and you solemnly admonishedthem by your Spiritthroughyour prophets. Still they paid noattention,27so you deliveredthem into the handsof the neighboringpeoples.289:31However, due to your abundantmercyyou did notdoawaywith them altogether; you did notabandonthem. Foryou area mercifuland compassionateGod.

9:32 “So now, our God– the great, powerful, and awesomeGod, who keepscovenantfidelity29 – do notregard asinconsequential30allthe hardshipthathas befallen us – our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people – from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day!9:33Youare righteouswithregard to allthat has happenedtous, foryou have actedfaithfully.31It is wewho have been in the wrong!9:34Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestorshave notkeptyour law. They have notpaid attentiontoyour commandmentsor your testimoniesby whichyou have solemnly admonishedthem.9:35Even when theywere in their kingdomand benefiting from your incredible32goodnessthat you hadlavished33on themin the spaciousand fertilelandyou hadset34beforethem, they did notserveyou, nordid they turnfrom their evilpractices.